Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
stood on the stairs—"What nobler spectacle than that of Paul at this moment! There he stood, bound with two chains, ready to make his defense to the people. The Roman commander sits by, to enforce order by his presence. An enraged populace look up to him from below. Yet in the midst of so many dangers, how self-possessed is he, how tranquil!" [CHRYSOSTOM (or in his name) in HACKETT].
a great silence—the people awed at the permission given him by the commandant, and seeing him sitting as a listener.
in the Hebrew tongue—the Syro-Chaldaic, the vernacular tongue of the Palestine Jews since the captivity.
Art not thou that Egyptian, etc.—The form of the question implies that the answer is to be in the negative, and is matter of some surprise: "Thou art not then?" etc.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Acts 21:40:
Acts 13:15-17
Acts 19:33
Acts 22:2
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